I identified one offensive position that every club should target in the upcoming draft in my most recent newsletter. I’m not criticising, but if you actually read the introduction instead of simply skimming it, you may remember that I said I will follow up shortly with the defensive version of the same concept.
But that will have to wait till later today. Initially, I wanted to remain in attack mode and make a mock draft in which defensive players were left out in full. Yes, a mock draft focused exclusively on offence.
I chose to put this together for two reasons. This year, there may be a record number of offensive players selected in the first round, and I think it’s entertaining to hold one unconventional mock draft every April.
I’ll go over a couple more points before we begin:
Despite the fact that trades should be anticipated frequently in the actual draft, I did not estimate any.
Some of my choices were based on position rankings from nine separate sources: the staffs of PFF, Bleacher Report, and CBS Sports; Christian at FTW; Nate Tice at Yahoo; Dane Brugler at The Athletic; Danny Kelly at the Ringer; Daniel Jeremiah at NFL Network; and Mel Kiper at ESPN.
I utilised this free mock draft simulator I found to determine which offensive prospects would still be available for the teams without a first-round pick when those teams are scheduled to pick.
10. New York Jets: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
It’s risky to draft a tight end this high, but Bowers could quickly become Aaron Rodgers’ second-favorite target after Garrett Wilson.
11. Minnesota Vikings: J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
I’ve seen several evaluators compare McCarthy to Cousins, so it’d be somewhat appropriate if he ended up as Cousins’ successor. There are legitimate concerns about McCarthy’s game, but he’d at least be set up nicely in Minnesota.
12. Denver Broncos: Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
I think this is too high for Nix, but I also don’t think the Broncos can afford to wait for a quarterback with only Jarrett Stidham and Ben DiNucci on the roster. Plus, Nix with Sean Payton could be a good match.
13. Las Vegas Raiders: Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
I’m not dismissing the possibility of the Raiders taking a chance on Michael Penix Jr. here, though I’m leaning toward them waiting until later to nab a quarterback. In that case, they need to upgrade their OL, and Fuaga is capable of playing both right tackle (where there’s an opening) and guard.
14. New Orleans Saints: JC Latham, OT, Alabama
With Ryan Ramczyk’s NFL future in the air, the Saints need to start planning for life without their All-Pro right tackle. Here comes Latham, who earned first-team All-SEC honors at RT last season and did not miss a game in his Alabama career.
15. Indianapolis Colts: Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas
I don’t envision the Colts actually drafting a wide receiver in the first round, but it’s not out of the question either because they need to surround Anthony Richardson with more weapons. Mitchell would immediately be the most athletic receiver on the team.
16. Seattle Seahawks: Troy Fautanu, OL, Washington
The Seahawks can get much-need OL depth from an in-state product. While Fautanu played all last season at LT for the nation’s top-ranked offensive line, Brugler said that the versatile lineman “offers legitimate five-position potential” in the NFL.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars: Ladd McConkey, WR, Georgia
Thomas Jr. has been frequently mocked to the Jaguars. Since he’s off the table, as are any defensive prospects, I think Jacksonville would turn to plan B at receiver, which could be any number of guys. Based on the position rankings that I’ve tracked, McConkey averages out to the sixth-best receiver in this class — and he already has a connection to a couple of Jags.
18. Cincinnati Bengals: Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
Although the Bengals would be the sixth team taking an offensive lineman at this point, they’d still end up with the high-upside Mims. The 340-pounder doesn’t have a ton of experience, but he doesn’t need to start right away and can be a future fixture at either right or left tackle.
19. Los Angeles Rams: Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington
My first curveball! The Rams wouldn’t draft Penix in the first round in the real world, yet I’ve seen one recent mock draft project him to LA in the second round. It makes sense: Matthew Stafford is 36 and sometimes injured, and his backup is 32-year-old Jimmy Garoppolo who is often injured. Penix comes with his own injury risks, but in this scenario, the Rams — who don’t have major holes to fill on offense — decide not to wait around on a QB who likely wouldn’t fall to them on Day 2.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Graham Barton, OL, Duke
Despite lining up at left tackle for the last three seasons, Barton is expected to play center in the NFL. That’s the biggest weakness on the Steelers’ OL right now, and even if they like their in-house options, Barton’s ability to play multiple positions along the line gives him the edge over more experienced centers in this draft.
21. Miami Dolphins: Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
The Dolphins don’t have an immediate need at tackle, with LT Terron Armstead and RT Austin Jackson both returning. But Armstead is almost 33 and has missed 11 games in the last two seasons. Guyton, who is talented but a bit raw, could be a good bet for the future, whether he takes over for Armstead or Jackson moves over and Guyton mans the right side.
22. Philadelphia Eagles: Jordan Morgan, OL, Arizona
Like the Dolphins, the Eagles don’t necessarily need a day one starter along their OL. But they could use versatility, which Morgan brings to the table. He played tackle throughout college, meaning he could be tabbed to be Lane Johnson’s eventual replacement. However, his best position in the NFL could be inside, and Philly does have a question mark at right guard.
23. Minnesota Vikings: Jackson Powers-Johnson, C, Oregon
The Vikings still have center Garrett Bradbury under contract, but his starting job isn’t guaranteed after underwhelming play. Powers-Johnson could come in and start right away at center, and he also has the tools to move to guard.
24. Dallas Cowboys: Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU
Thanks in part to the flexibility of current left guard Tyler Smith, the Cowboys have the luxury of taking the best offensive lineman available, regardless of position. Based on various rankings, that would be the athletic-but-raw Suamataia, who is probably a Day 2 pick in real life.
25. Green Bay Packers: Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State
The Packers could either select an offensive lineman before even the guys with Round 2 grades are gone, or they could switch gears and grab a guy who would fit their offense. I have them doing the latter with Coleman, who is in that big-bodied receiver mold that Green Bay usually likes.
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Zach Frazier, C, West Virginia
In this mock, the Bucs probably can’t wait until the second round to snag Frazier like in the real draft. Regardless, he can slide into the starting center spot immediately following Ryan Jensen’s retirement.
27. Arizona Cardinals: Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas
While I don’t actually believe the Cardinals will double up on receivers in the first round, it makes sense to surround Kyler Murray with more talent. Worthy is much smaller and less polished than MHJ, but he’s incredibly fast and electric with the ball in his hands.
28. Buffalo Bills: Troy Franklin, WR, Oregon
Most mock drafts project that the Bills will target a receiver in the first round after they traded Stefon Diggs to the Texans. If they decided to hold off until Day 2, then they could come away with Franklin. In this mock, of course, they’d have to act more quickly in order to land the speedy deep threat.
29. Detroit Lions: Roman Wilson, WR, Michigan
The way this draft is unfolding, the Lions should also try to snap up a receiver instead of waiting. Similar to the Bills, I have them ending up with a receiver who could be there for them on Day 2 of the actual draft. Wilson has steady hands and wouldn’t require much time to develop a rapport with Jared Goff.
30. Baltimore Ravens: Cooper Beebe, OL, Kansas State
The Ravens need OL reinforcements and are running out of realistic options for this high in the draft. Luckily for them, Beebe isn’t just the top-rated lineman remaining. He’s also a near-ideal match for Baltimore’s scheme.
31. San Francisco 49ers: Christian Haynes, OL, UConn
The 49ers find themselves in the same situation as the Ravens: drafting a much-needed offensive lineman a day earlier than he’s expected to be taken. And like the Ravens, the Niners should still be happy with this pick. Haynes, who played 51 games at right guard in college, would be an upgrade over 32-year-old vet Jon Feliciano.
32. Kansas City Chiefs: Xavier Legette, WR, South Carolina
Draftniks are split on whether the Chiefs will go with an offensive lineman or receiver in the first round. Personally, I think they should go with the former. At this point in my mock, though, there are more higher-quality WRs than OL who are still up for grabs. Legette is a work in progress, but he’s strong and, perhaps most importantly for Patrick Mahomes, rarely drops the ball. He can also help out in the return game from the jump.
Teams without a first-round pick
33. Carolina Panthers: Ricky Pearsall, WR, Florida
Bryce Young doesn’t just need better receivers. He needs receivers he can trust. Pearsall might not be a WR1, but he has requisite skills to become Young’s Mr. Reliable.
42. Houston Texans: Dominick Puni, OL, Kansas
The Texans took care of most of their biggest offensive needs in free agency. However, they could still stand to add more depth along their OL. Even if he’s not a starter as a rookie, Puni could develop into one — and, as a bonus, he can line up at guard, center, or tackle.
54. Cleveland Browns: Blake Corum, RB, Michigan
As I wrote in my previous newsletter, the Browns’ offensive priority in this draft should be about adding depth, regardless of position. After a ton of offensive linemen and receivers have been snatched up, I have them instead going with a running back, a position that has hardly heard its name called yet (Trey Benson and Jonathon Brooks have already been drafted in my simulation). Corum, a workhorse who has a penchant for finding the end zone, would provide insurance as Nick Chubb tries to bounce back from his major knee injury.
10. New York Jets: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
It’s risky to draft a tight end this high, but Bowers could quickly become Aaron Rodgers’ second-favorite target after Garrett Wilson.
11. Minnesota Vikings: J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
I’ve seen several evaluators compare McCarthy to Cousins, so it’d be somewhat appropriate if he ended up as Cousins’ successor. There are legitimate concerns about McCarthy’s game, but he’d at least be set up nicely in Minnesota.
12. Denver Broncos: Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
I think this is too high for Nix, but I also don’t think the Broncos can afford to wait for a quarterback with only Jarrett Stidham and Ben DiNucci on the roster. Plus, Nix with Sean Payton could be a good match.
13. Las Vegas Raiders: Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
I’m not dismissing the possibility of the Raiders taking a chance on Michael Penix Jr. here, though I’m leaning toward them waiting until later to nab a quarterback. In that case, they need to upgrade their OL, and Fuaga is capable of playing both right tackle (where there’s an opening) and guard.
14. New Orleans Saints: JC Latham, OT, Alabama
With Ryan Ramczyk’s NFL future in the air, the Saints need to start planning for life without their All-Pro right tackle. Here comes Latham, who earned first-team All-SEC honors at RT last season and did not miss a game in his Alabama career.
15. Indianapolis Colts: Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas
I don’t envision the Colts actually drafting a wide receiver in the first round, but it’s not out of the question either because they need to surround Anthony Richardson with more weapons. Mitchell would immediately be the most athletic receiver on the team.
16. Seattle Seahawks: Troy Fautanu, OL, Washington
The Seahawks can get much-need OL depth from an in-state product. While Fautanu played all last season at LT for the nation’s top-ranked offensive line, Brugler said that the versatile lineman “offers legitimate five-position potential” in the NFL.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars: Ladd McConkey, WR, Georgia
Thomas Jr. has been frequently mocked to the Jaguars. Since he’s off the table, as are any defensive prospects, I think Jacksonville would turn to plan B at receiver, which could be any number of guys. Based on the position rankings that I’ve tracked, McConkey averages out to the sixth-best receiver in this class — and he already has a connection to a couple of Jags.
18. Cincinnati Bengals: Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
Although the Bengals would be the sixth team taking an offensive lineman at this point, they’d still end up with the high-upside Mims. The 340-pounder doesn’t have a ton of experience, but he doesn’t need to start right away and can be a future fixture at either right or left tackle.
19. Los Angeles Rams: Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington
My first curveball! The Rams wouldn’t draft Penix in the first round in the real world, yet I’ve seen one recent mock draft project him to LA in the second round. It makes sense: Matthew Stafford is 36 and sometimes injured, and his backup is 32-year-old Jimmy Garoppolo who is often injured. Penix comes with his own injury risks, but in this scenario, the Rams — who don’t have major holes to fill on offense — decide not to wait around on a QB who likely wouldn’t fall to them on Day 2.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Graham Barton, OL, Duke
Despite lining up at left tackle for the last three seasons, Barton is expected to play center in the NFL. That’s the biggest weakness on the Steelers’ OL right now, and even if they like their in-house options, Barton’s ability to play multiple positions along the line gives him the edge over more experienced centers in this draft.
21. Miami Dolphins: Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
The Dolphins don’t have an immediate need at tackle, with LT Terron Armstead and RT Austin Jackson both returning. But Armstead is almost 33 and has missed 11 games in the last two seasons. Guyton, who is talented but a bit raw, could be a good bet for the future, whether he takes over for Armstead or Jackson moves over and Guyton mans the right side.
22. Philadelphia Eagles: Jordan Morgan, OL, Arizona
Like the Dolphins, the Eagles don’t necessarily need a day one starter along their OL. But they could use versatility, which Morgan brings to the table. He played tackle throughout college, meaning he could be tabbed to be Lane Johnson’s eventual replacement. However, his best position in the NFL could be inside, and Philly does have a question mark at right guard.
23. Minnesota Vikings: Jackson Powers-Johnson, C, Oregon
The Vikings still have center Garrett Bradbury under contract, but his starting job isn’t guaranteed after underwhelming play. Powers-Johnson could come in and start right away at center, and he also has the tools to move to guard.
24. Dallas Cowboys: Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU
Thanks in part to the flexibility of current left guard Tyler Smith, the Cowboys have the luxury of taking the best offensive lineman available, regardless of position. Based on various rankings, that would be the athletic-but-raw Suamataia, who is probably a Day 2 pick in real life.
25. Green Bay Packers: Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State
The Packers could either select an offensive lineman before even the guys with Round 2 grades are gone, or they could switch gears and grab a guy who would fit their offense. I have them doing the latter with Coleman, who is in that big-bodied receiver mold that Green Bay usually likes.
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Zach Frazier, C, West Virginia
In this mock, the Bucs probably can’t wait until the second round to snag Frazier like in the real draft. Regardless, he can slide into the starting center spot immediately following Ryan Jensen’s retirement.
27. Arizona Cardinals: Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas
While I don’t actually believe the Cardinals will double up on receivers in the first round, it makes sense to surround Kyler Murray with more talent. Worthy is much smaller and less polished than MHJ, but he’s incredibly fast and electric with the ball in his hands.
28. Buffalo Bills: Troy Franklin, WR, Oregon
Most mock drafts project that the Bills will target a receiver in the first round after they traded Stefon Diggs to the Texans. If they decided to hold off until Day 2, then they could come away with Franklin. In this mock, of course, they’d have to act more quickly in order to land the speedy deep threat.
29. Detroit Lions: Roman Wilson, WR, Michigan
The way this draft is unfolding, the Lions should also try to snap up a receiver instead of waiting. Similar to the Bills, I have them ending up with a receiver who could be there for them on Day 2 of the actual draft. Wilson has steady hands and wouldn’t require much time to develop a rapport with Jared Goff.
30. Baltimore Ravens: Cooper Beebe, OL, Kansas State
The Ravens need OL reinforcements and are running out of realistic options for this high in the draft. Luckily for them, Beebe isn’t just the top-rated lineman remaining. He’s also a near-ideal match for Baltimore’s scheme.
31. San Francisco 49ers: Christian Haynes, OL, UConn
The 49ers find themselves in the same situation as the Ravens: drafting a much-needed offensive lineman a day earlier than he’s expected to be taken. And like the Ravens, the Niners should still be happy with this pick. Haynes, who played 51 games at right guard in college, would be an upgrade over 32-year-old vet Jon Feliciano.
32. Kansas City Chiefs: Xavier Legette, WR, South Carolina
Draftniks are split on whether the Chiefs will go with an offensive lineman or receiver in the first round. Personally, I think they should go with the former. At this point in my mock, though, there are more higher-quality WRs than OL who are still up for grabs. Legette is a work in progress, but he’s strong and, perhaps most importantly for Patrick Mahomes, rarely drops the ball. He can also help out in the return game from the jump.
Teams without a first-round pick
33. Carolina Panthers: Ricky Pearsall, WR, Florida
Bryce Young doesn’t just need better receivers. He needs receivers he can trust. Pearsall might not be a WR1, but he has requisite skills to become Young’s Mr. Reliable.
42. Houston Texans: Dominick Puni, OL, Kansas
The Texans took care of most of their biggest offensive needs in free agency. However, they could still stand to add more depth along their OL. Even if he’s not a starter as a rookie, Puni could develop into one — and, as a bonus, he can line up at guard, center, or tackle.
54. Cleveland Browns: Blake Corum, RB, Michigan
As I wrote in my previous newsletter, the Browns’ offensive priority in this draft should be about adding depth, regardless of position. After a ton of offensive linemen and receivers have been snatched up, I have them instead going with a running back, a position that has hardly heard its name called yet (Trey Benson and Jonathon Brooks have already been drafted in my simulation). Corum, a workhorse who has a penchant for finding the end zone, would provide insurance as Nick Chubb tries to bounce back from his major knee injury.